Animal Ordinances in Redding, CA (2026)
12 verified animal ordinances for Redding, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Redding lets residents keep chickens, ducks, geese and other fowl, but only 40 feet from any occupied dwelling other than their own, 15 feet from side and rear lines, and 50 feet from the front line, under RMC § 7.04.120. Roosters over three months old, peafowl and guinea fowl are banned citywide under § 7.04.130.
Redding Backyard Chicken Setback Rules
Significant RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 7.04.120
It is unlawful for any person to keep any chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pigeons, doves, squabs or similar fowl or any hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, rats, mice or any other similar gnawing mammal, owned or controlled by him or her within forty feet of any dwelling house or structure used as a dwelling house, unless the house or structure is occupied by him or her; or to ...
Dog Leash Laws
Letting any animal run loose in Redding is a declared nuisance and a misdemeanor under RMC § 7.04.050, unless the animal stays on private property under its owner's exclusive control or inside a city-designated off-leash dog exercise area. Animal control can pursue the violation criminally or through Chapter 1.13's administrative citation process.
Redding Leash and At-Large Animal Rule
Some RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 7.04.050
It is declared to be a nuisance and it is unlawful for any person to allow or permit animals, under his or her ownership or control, to run at large except upon private property exclusively under the ownership and/or control of the owner or keeper or within a designated dog exercise area. Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor and also subject to administrative enforcement pursuant to...
Breed Restrictions
Redding does not have a breed-specific dog ordinance and cannot enact one. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 expressly preempts local breed bans: cities and counties may not adopt dog-control ordinances that are specific to any breed. Redding may regulate dangerous behavior on an individual-dog basis under the state dangerous and vicious dog statutes at Food & Ag Code Sections 31601-31683, but no breed (including pit bulls, Rottweilers, and German shepherds) may be singled out for prohibition or numerical restriction.
Redding CA Breed-Specific Legislation (Preempted by State Law)
Some RestrictionsCal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683 (Breed-Specific Dog Regulation Prohibited)
31683. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except ...
Beekeeping
Redding lets residents keep up to three bee colonies at home if the lot has at least 6,000 square feet, but the keeper must first get a zoning clearance from the Development Services Director and sign an affidavit agreeing to meet hive height, registration, and barrier standards under Chapter 7.08.
Redding Backyard Beekeeping Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 7.08.010
No person shall keep, have, maintain or protect upon his or her premises, or any premises or lot within the city, any apiary or colony, hive, cluster, or swarm of stinging insects other than bees pursuant to the following provisions: A.Any person keeping bees for noncommercial purposes shall obtain a zoning clearance from the development services director and provide an affidavit certifying tha...
Exotic Pets
Redding Zoning Ordinance Section 18.43.040(I) provides that the keeping of exotic or wild animals may be permitted only subject to issuance of a site development permit and any required California Fish and Wildlife permits. California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 separately classifies a wide range of species as restricted and requires a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) before they may be imported, transported, or possessed in California: many common exotics (ferrets, hedgehogs, many primates, large carnivores) are prohibited or restricted under state law.
Redding CA Exotic Pets
Some Restrictions14 Cal. Code Regs. § 671(c) (CDFW Restricted Species Permit Requirements)
Restricted Species Permits are required for every person who imports, exports, transports, or possesses any restricted animal listed in Section 671(c), Title 14, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). Restricted Species Permit Application/Amendment: New: $155.53; Renewal and Amendment: $80.60. Restricted Species Permit Inspection: 1-5 Enclosures: $319.50; 6-25 Enclosures: $448.00; 26-50 E...
Pet Limits
Redding caps most households at six dogs or six cats, or any combination totaling six, once each animal passes four months old, unless the owner holds a kennel license under RMC § 7.04.150. A single pot-bellied pig is also allowed, but it counts toward that same six-animal ceiling alongside any dogs and cats.
Redding Dog and Cat Household Limit
Some RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 7.04.150(A)
It is unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or maintain in or about any dwelling, or the curtilage thereof, more than six dogs or six cats, or any combination thereof exceeding a total of six, each of which is over the age of four months, unless the owner has obtained a kennel license under the provisions of this chapter. Not more than one pot-bellied pig may be kept, harbored or maintained i...
Cat Rules
Redding bars anyone from feeding cats outdoors by leaving food on the ground or in containers on public property, and even on private land food can only go out for cats the household actually owns, in containers brought in overnight, under RMC § 7.04.060(B). Cats, unlike dogs, can be kept outside without a securing enclosure under § 7.04.080.
Redding Outdoor Cat Feeding Rules
Some RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 7.04.060(B)
It is declared to be a public nuisance and is unlawful for any person to feed cats outside by placing food directly on the ground or in containers in publicly owned spaces. A person may feed only cats owned or kept by the household. Food must be provided in containers that are not to be left outside overnight.
Microchipping
Redding has no general pet microchip mandate, but once a dog is formally classified dangerous after an administrative hearing, its owner has ten business days to implant an identification microchip, one of more than a dozen mandatory conditions the city can impose under RMC § 7.13.110.
Redding Dangerous Dog Microchip Requirement
Significant RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 7.13.110(A)(10)
A.No person shall own, maintain or possess a dog determined to be a dangerous dog, except upon one or more following conditions that the hearing officer or board may specify in a written order: ... 10.The owner or keeper of the dog must, within ten business days of a final determination that the dog is dangerous dog, obtain an identification microchip embedded under the dog's skin.
Pet Store Rules
Redding does not ban pet stores from selling dogs, cats or other animals: RMC § 7.04.160 only bars selling, bartering or giving away animals on streets, sidewalks, trails, or in front of stores and shopping centers, and expressly protects licensed pet shops and feed stores that sell animals on their own premises.
Redding Curbside Pet Sale Ban
Few RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 7.04.160
It is unlawful for any person to display, sell, offer for sale, barter or give away, upon any street, sidewalk, recreation trail, in front of or adjacent to any retail store, shopping center or other place of business which members of the public frequent, any animal. It is unlawful for any person who owns or controls any retail store, shopping center, or other place of business which members of...
Pet Groomer Rules
Redding zones pet grooming under its 'Animal Sales and Services' use classification, which also covers boarding and small-animal medical care run as a commercial business. Section 18.60.040(B) defines the use, and Schedule 18.33.020-A permits it outright in most commercial districts while capping it to 5,000 square feet in Neighborhood Commercial zones and banning outdoor kennels next to residential districts.
Redding Pet Grooming Business Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 18.60.040(B); Schedule 18.33.020-A
B.Animal Sales and Services. Boarding, grooming, medical care for small animals on a commercial basis and/or incidental retail sales. This classification does not include dog walking and similar pet care services not carried out at a fixed location...Adjacent to an "R" District, outdoor kennels prohibited...L8 Small-scale only (5,000 square feet or less).
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Redding zones veterinary care under two classifications in its commercial districts: "Animal Sales and Services," permitted in Shopping Center, Regional Commercial, General Commercial and Heavy Commercial zones, and "Large Animal Veterinary Services," permitted only in General Commercial and Heavy Commercial. Outdoor kennels are barred wherever the use sits next to a residential district.
Redding Veterinary Office Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code Schedule 18.33.020-A (§ 18.33.020)
Animal Sales and Services L8 P P P S P Adjacent to an "R" District, outdoor kennels prohibited. 1.Large Animal Veterinary Services. Office and medical treatment facilities used by veterinarians for large animals. Large Animal Veterinary Services - - - P - P. L8 Small-scale only (5,000 square feet or less).
Bird Protection
Within Redding's two designated wild bird sanctuaries, Turtle Bay and Turtle Bay East, it is unlawful at any time to hunt, trap, kill, or destroy any bird or to molest or damage a nest or eggs, under Chapter 7.24, though the city council can order pest-bird control when a species becomes a nuisance.
Redding Wild Bird Sanctuary Protections
Significant RestrictionsRedding Municipal Code § 7.24.030
Within any established wild bird sanctuary, no person shall, at any time, hunt, pursue, kill, trap, take or destroy any bird of any species whatsoever, and no person shall molest or damage the nest or the eggs of any bird of any species located within the confines of the sanctuary, except, however, that the city council may, at any time, when in its opinion starlings or crows or any other speci...
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